Microsoft Now Holds 10,000 Patents

Microsoft is marking on Tuesday the recent awarding of its 10,000 US patent, granted for its surface computing technology.

U.S. Patent No. 7,479,950 outlines how users can place objects, ranging from cell phones to fingers, on the surface computer's table-like display and the computer will identify the objects and track their position, orientation, and motion, Microsoft said. This allows objects to be associated with data or media, such as a collection of music or photos.

Microsoft was granted 2,000 patents in 2008, ranking it fourth among companies receiving US patents, Microsoft said. The company spends about US$8 billion a year on research and development.

"Most technology companies, Microsoft included, have been increasing their emphasis on IP in recent years, trying to derive greater business value from their intellectual assets," said Bart Eppenauer, chief patent counsel for Microsoft, in a statement released by the company.<<

Nokia Considers Entering the Laptop Market

Nokia's CEO says the handset maker is contemplating a move into the laptop market as a way to expand its business. While there have been rumors that Nokia has been considering making laptop PCs, it's the first time a company official has confirmed an interest in the notebook market.Nokia's comments come a week after No 3 PC brand Acer launched a foray into the phone business with eight cellphone models, joining leader Hewlett-Packard and No. 4 Lenovo in the high-growth space.
While strong profit margins in the smartphone industry attract PC brands, the attraction of the low-margin computer industry is less obvious.
"Nokia maybe nervous about entering a market segment that is already heavily commoditized, but it would be in a position to exploit its enormous scale in manufacturing, supply chain and distribution," said Ben Wood, research director at CCS Insight.

The death of the digital camera moved a step closer after Sony Ericsson unveiled the world's first mobile phone with a built-in 12.1-megapixel camera<

Sony Ericsson's new handset could render digital cameras obsolete by offering as many megapixels as many semi-professional and consumer cameras.
The Idou will also compete directly with Apple's hugely popular iPhone, and features a 3.5in widescreen touch-screen and powerful flash for high quality photos. It also has all the capabilities of Sony Ericsson's Walkman range of phones, which means it can be used for music and video playback as well as taking pictures. The device will run the Symbian mobile phone operating system, and users will be able to download extra software and applications to their device.
"The Idou is certainly an impressive change in direction for Sony," said Ernest Doku, a consultant with mobile phone comparison site Omio.com. "Sony has produced a slick, feature-rich handset to combat the iPhone's dominance, and Idou is bound to make waves with its built-in 12-megapixel camera.
"If you want one phone that can be a high-end camera, a fully-featured MP3 player and a robust mobile handset, then the Idou could be the only sensible choice."
Sony Ericsson's announcement comes just as Mobile World Congress, a huge technology conference focusing on mobile devices and services, gets underway in Barcelona, .
Over the next three days, mobile phone manufacturers from around the world will be showing off their latest handsets, and unveiling plans for new products and services that will help them compete with the all-conquering iPhone. Apple has sold more than 17 million units of it flagship device since July 2007, and it has raised the bar in terms of what consumers have come to expect from their phones.
In addition to the Idou, Sony Ericsson also showed off the W995, a mobile phone with 8.1-megapixel camera and Walkman music player. From various Soures